Packaging device for sheet material



Nov. 26, 1968 W. J. HAY, JR

PACKAGING DEVICE FOR SHEET MATERIAL Original Filed May 5, 1965 FIG. 2

FIG. 3

FIO.|

INVENTOR WILLIAM J. HAY JR.

BY QZISWH gui e ATTORNEYS United States ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A package for holding sheet material, three perpendicular walls are mounted on a base platform, the sheet materal is compressed against one of the walls by a bar under tension. The bar is positioned by a metal strap which is inserted through walls of the package.

This application is a continuation of Ser. No. 453,373 filed May 5, 1965, now abandoned.

This invention relates to a container for shipping sheet material, such as sheets of cut glass. This invention provides a container to accommodate heavy sheets of glass which are packed to form a package of varying thicknesses.

Most shipping containers are made in several basic standard sizes. Whenever a shipment is made which does not completely fill the interior of the container, additional packaging material must be inserted. The usual packaging material consists of expensive die cut paperboard strips or other packing devices. The present invention provides a container for shipping less than a full load, while eliminating the necessity for additional interior packing.

FIGURE 1 illustrates a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIGURE 2 illustrates a preferred embodiment from a side view with a portion broken away toshow sheets positioned within the container.

FIGURE 3 is a cut-away view showing the adjustable operation of the container.

Referring to the drawings, FIGURE 1 shows a container having walls and a bottom. A tensioning device 11 is disposed about container walls 13, 14 and 15. Walls 13 and 14 have apertures 19 and 20, respectively. A holding member 17 is disposed adjacent wall 18 and movable relative to wall 13 and Wall 14. The holding member is movably attached to the tensioning member 17 in a prefered embodiment by staples 20 and 21, or other suitable fastening means, which loosely encircle the tensioning member 17. A suitable tensioning producing device which is well known in the art may be attached to the tensioning member at any point along the wall 13, 14 or 15. The action of the tensioning producing device will cause holding member 17 to move toward wall and thus press against sheet material 21 which is packaged within the container walls. This adjustment can be made even after the container is filled and closed.

The position of the holding member 17 is adjustable relative to the dimension of the load of packaged sheets between walls 15 and 18. By proper positioning of apertures 19 and in walls 13 and 14, one or two positions may be selected, and thus provide a package which will accommodate a number of sheets of glass ranging from less than half a load to a full container. The easily adatent justed holding member serves as a positive positioning device within the protective container walls. The portion of the tensioning means 11 outside of the container enables an operator to quickly tension the inner member and thus eliminate any extensive inner packaging which would otherwise be required to position a full load within the outside container.

The holding member 17 may be of any suitable material, such as wood or metal. An elongated bar is illustrated in FIGURE 1, or it may be plate-like in shape to provide a greater area of contact between the packing member and the packaged material. The tensioning device illustrated in FIGURE 1 is a wire strap; however, other suitable material is contemplated, such as a baling wire.

The holding means may be disposed within the container while loading the container, permitting free access to the interior. When the container is filled to the desired level, the holding means is then positioned and tensioned against the packaged sheets. This ease of loading and ease of positioning is a great advantage in the elimination of extra labor involved during the packaging operation.

The firm positioning of the packaged material Within the container eliminates any vibration or other motion of the packaged goods within the container during shipment,

The present invention provides a strong container, yet one which is easily adjusted for varying loads and thicknesses of material. The easily adjusted holding member can be quickly accommodated to loads of varying thicknesses.

Having thus described a preferred embodiment of the present invention, what I claim is:

1. In a container for packaging sheet material formed by a bottom, a wall attached vertically to each edge of the bottom forming a four walled container, the improvement comprising:

(a) tension means attached to the outside of one wall,

and disposed outside of a portion of each wall attached to the first wall, and disposed inside of the remaining portion of each of said walls;

(b) holding means moveably disposed within said container;

(c) said tension means attached to said holding means and positioning said means within said walls without contacting said walls, and;

((1) said holding means contacting a portion of said sheet material disposed Within said container and between said holding means and said first Wall to position said sheet material within said container.

2. The container of claim 1, wherein said holding means is an elongated bar.

3. The container of claim 1, wherein said tension means is a metal band.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 551,692 2 12/1895 Schmidt 217-64 1,665,732 4/1928 Chase 206- 3,159,275 12/ 1964 Van Antwerpen et al. 206-62 3,209,905 10/1965 Kean 217-43 RAPHAEL H. SCHWARTZ, Primary Examiner. 

